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Tuesday, February 19, 2013

For the Health of it… Health Update 02.19.13 {Heart}

Later today, it is back to the hospital (Ochsner Main Campus} after fasting since last night for more work on this heart of mine. I much rather shopping, decorating, eating, and drinking posts, but here it goes. This too is part of my life. Many of you have inquired, and I appreciate it greatly.

Bringing you up-to-date…

Over a week ago, I had a four hour procedure known as a Pharmalogical Nuclear Stress Test. Under monitoring, a drug (Regadenonson) was given to increase blood flow to the heart. A radiopharmaceutical agent was given and pictures of its distribution in the heart were taken by a special camera. The information will help the doctor determine whether a blockage is present in vesels of the heart. Needless to say, I was able to grade lots of papers and plan my lessons during the down time while the drugs were dispersed through the body.

I also had a number of blood tests done. I have not received my results to date as my cardiologist has been out of town. I always believe in "no news is good news". I hope! I will see Dr. Khatib on Tuesday.

I am asking for your prayers today. I will be out all day having two procedures that I had in the hospital back on January 5. I will be at Ochsner Main Campus having a TEE and a cardioversion.”A TEE, a transesophageal echocardiogram, is an alternative way to perform an echocardiogram. A specialized probe containing an ultrasound transducer at its tip is passed into the patient's esophagus. This allows image and Doppler evaluation which can be recorded.” The numbing agent of the throat is to me the worse part. It tastes disgusting.

I will also be having a Cardioversion, a procedure to restore the heart's normal rhythm. “During the procedure, I will be given medication to keep me free of pain. The doctor then gives a brief electric shock. Hopefully, this will enable my heart to go back into a normal rhythm again. (Small pads are placed on the chest, and IV line is placed in the arm for sedation meds, oxygen is given through a soft plastic tube in the nose, pads are placed on the chest and back & a very brief shock is given, and the heartbeat is watched to make sure the normal rhythm has been restored.)”

After a couple hours of monitoring, I will be sent home. J will be with me throughout the entire procedure and to drive me home.I again thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers as well as patience as I go through all of these procedures. I am only hoping that my heart will get back into its normal rhythm and that the muscle continues to get healthier.In the near future, I do have a sleep consultation and testing appointment. More info. on this to come.My doctors tell me to remain as "stress-free" as possible. Didn't I inform him I'm a teacher? LOL. I will do my best in the coming weeks to keep as "stress-free" as possible. Thanks for your help. Rest is in order, of course.

Oh-Ron- I am so sorry you are having to go through all this. The hospital I used to work in is the "heart hospital" in our area. #10 in the nation. My hubby is a chaplain there so we know what you are going through. God bless you and I am praying for you. If you let me know next time a day ahead I will do a prayer post for you on the day of your procedures. Hang in there, buddy-you can do this- xo Diana

My thoughts and prayers are with you Ron, and J at this time.It is rather difficult to remain 'stress free' when they are telling you there is something not quite right with your heart... This hits very close, as my husband went through a similar series of tests, and hospitalizations last June.Positive thoughts and lots of prayers going your way.((HUGS)) Gee

I'm a fairly new reader of your blog - but I am sending my prayers your way that everything turns out just fine. I'm a former teacher - 'former' partly due to the stress, lol ... but then there are those certain days and certain students that make me miss it :-)

Of course I'll be praying for you and hope all works out well. Sounds like a long and stressful time just having all the testing and treatment. Remember, keep breathing those slow deep breathes. Thanks for letting us know where your at with this.

Since my first comment, and I was the first to comment, was accidentally deleted, this is the gist of what I wrote: First, that I have been praying for you and your results to come out normal or at least to get you back to normal. I also said that you needed to tell the doctor that maybe he should use vodka to numb your esophagus instead of that nasty stuff. ;) Finally, I wanted to know if you had plagiarized the description of all the procedures--aka "copy and paste" since you sounded so much like the "man in the white lab coat" that you wrote about in an essay in your senior year! ;) On a serious note, I am praying that all goes well. You know I love you and don't want anything to happen to you! xoxo <3